David Lee Myers
David Lee Myers (born February 24, 1949 ) is a musician in the field of experimental electronic music and lives in New York City .
Musical career
In the 1960s he played in a rock band before concentrating on the sonic possibilities of feedback and effects . Robert Fripp (especially the Frippertronics he developed ) and Brian Eno can be seen as influences of the early publications . Myers built himself a modular effects rack with which he was able to set different manipulations of feedback effects, through which the feedback qualities sometimes sound like synthesizers , rhythm boxes, industrial noises or ambient drones ( feedback machines ).
From 1987 to 1994 he performed under the name Arcane Device . Already at that time his music was mainly based on feedback techniques (manipulated feedback). Arcane Device developed, albeit not linearly, from almost unbearable noise ( Diabolis Ex Machina , 1987) to regular ambient ( Envoi In Cumin , already 1994).
Engines of Myth appeared on Recommended after Myers sent a cassette of his first experiments to Chris Cutler in 1987, who was a founding member of u. a. Henry Cow was also head of Recommended. In the next few years his music was published by various unknown independent labels, until finally Staalplaat and himself took care of it with his label Pulswidth Records .
Music and visuals
Altogether he published (partly under his real name) about twenty records on labels like Generator, Recommended Records , Silent, RRRecords, Staalplaat. The publications were not tied to studio recordings, but often reproductions of live sets and improvisations.
Since 1991 he has also been increasingly concerned with the visual implementation of his ideas. In this context he speaks of a (very small) "bandwidth" of human perception within the electromagnetic spectrum, which suggests the combination of acoustic and visual components. An oscilloscope is one of his most important instruments here. He calls the pictures that are created by hand - translations of his digital compositions - "feedback impressions".
Feedback machines
David Lee Myers' handling of the feedback machines is best summed up on his website:
"The outputs of electronic devices - particularly those intended to create a modification of some kind to an audio signal, such as time delays - are fed, via custom-built mixers, to their own inputs. In this way, these devices never receive signals from the 'outside world', and instead feed on a diet of their own product. A whole new function of these devices appears, bearing little relation to their intended purposes. The way I envision it, the devices are provided the opportunity to 'sing their own songs'; the resulting sounds represent nothing other than the free circulation of electrons within. In effect, these sounds come from nothing, and more than one observer has proclaimed them to arise 'from the ether'. "
“The outputs of electronic devices - especially those that are there to add some kind of change to an audio signal, such as delays - are fed with their own signal through normal mixers. In this way, these devices never receive signals from the 'outside world', but instead receive a dietary result of their own products. A completely new function of these devices is emerging that has little to do with their actual purposes. The way I see it, it gives the devices the ability to 'sing their own songs'; the results represent nothing other than the free circulation of intrinsic electrons. In fact, these sounds come from nowhere and some listeners have expressed themselves in such a way that they come 'out of the ether'. "
Perception as a creative impulse
He does not see himself as an agent of the musical or visual results and puts the focus of his work on opening up impressions from unknown worlds:
"Essentially, I do not make sounds or draw pictures, but allow latent or unseen forces and processes to present themselves via simple technologies. I select the methods, set the stage, and as the phenomena emerge I of course introduce my own aesthetic judgments to the mix. Therefore the sounds and visuals which are presented are neither completely random science nor the gesture of an artist's hand, but something between the two, and I believe this to be the most effective approach toward evoking meaningful impressions of unseen worlds. "
“Actually, I don't make the sounds or pictures myself, I allow latent or invisible forces and processes to represent themselves using simple technologies. I choose the methods, show what is possible, and when the events arise, I of course react to the events with my own aesthetic judgments. Therefore the results are never purely coincidental or a gesture by the artist, but in between. I believe that this is one of the most promising approaches to gain interesting impressions of unknown worlds. "
Collaborations
David Lee Myers played and plays with Kim Cascone and Asmus Tietchens, as well as Tod Dockstader , Marco Oppedisano , Vidna Obmana and Ellen Band. In 1994 he paused to appear again in 1998 with various projects under his own name.
Discography
- Devices 1987-2007 double CD (Monochrome Vision 2007)
- Engines of Myth CD reissue (Recommended Records 2003)
- Envoi In Cumin CD (PlayLoud 1994)
- Trout CD (Silent Records 1993)
- Diabolis Ex Machina CD (Staalplaat 1992)
- Also Sprach Zarathustra CD (Anckarstrom 1990)
- Engines of Myth LP (Recommended Records 1988)
- Ether Music (2017)
Individual evidence
Web links
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Myers, David Lee |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American musician in the field of experimental electronic music |
| DATE OF BIRTH | February 24, 1949 |